Auxilary Fuel Tank

[aMcBurnett]

I am trying to hook up a fuel tank in the bed of my truck just to feed into my stock fuel tank. Looking for tips on what is the best way to go about this. Should I use the vent tube? Run it directly into the tank? Any help would be greatly appriciated, Thank You

 

[BIGNASTY]

Mine T's into the rubber fill neck hose on the OEM fill. and has a pump that pumps from the AUX to the main tank. You could let it siphon but I have heard that is against the law. I use the Aux tank to fill the truck so a fresh supply of fuel is always run thur the Aux so it wont sit long.

 

[aMcBurnett]

It jsut simply T's in with like a brass T from a hardware store?

 

[BIGNASTY]

I dont know how big the fill hose on the OEM fill neck is but ya. Its say 2 or 3 inch into the regular fill hose and then a T in the middle of that it's a 1/2 in hose from the Aux tank. Fuel runs down the regular fill to main tank. In the next couple of days ill take a pic and post it for you if I didnt explain well enough ,.

 

[steved]

The fill neck is 1. 5" if I remember correctly... its what I used, I actually drilled and tapped the manifold required by the FASS I ran initially, and now the manifold used by the AirDog.



The vent tube will not work... it has a check valve it it that won't allow it to gravity. I tried this route first, it didn't work.



I have seen and read of guys using a capped barb fitting on top of the fuel sending unit as well. I think I know which one they are referring to, and I plan on using it as an extra vent to assist with gravity feeding.



The way my tank is set up, it actually siphons once you get it flowing. I have a small Carter pump (very similar to those used as lift pumps in the 2nd generation trucks) to pump... because its a rotary vane, it will allow a siphon without restricting flow.

 

[HBarlow]

Transfer Flow, a large and successful long time manufacturer of auxilliary fuel tanks for our trucks, uses a T fitting into the vent line on the fuel tank fill line.

I've been using one of their tanks installed that way since 2002 on three different Dodge Rams.

I'm not sure how you plan to move fuel from the aux tank into your main tank. The Transfer Flow tanks use a small fuel pump to pump fuel not gravity flow.

 

[CKelley1]

we gravity flow through a 2 micron filter to the fill hose to the tank and only fill the aux tank. we weld a fitting on the bottom of the aluminum tank and use a ball valve to shut fuel off to change filter and connected a sediment bowl to check for water or bad fuel then to the 2 micron filter

#ad

 

[HBarlow]

That looks like a good home-made design.

 

[Bill Stockard]

Do I see red off road diesel fuel in that fuel bowl?



Bill

 

[mwilson]

Do I see red off road diesel fuel in that fuel bowl?



Bill

Good eye, Bill.

I see the same thing.



Mike.

 

[mwilson]

I am going to do an auxilary tank set-up next year if all goes well.



I think that I will purchase a Northern Hydraulics kit or something of that nature no matter what I use for a tank.



I have horrible visions of a home made system overfilling the trucks tank and spewing 30 gallons of fuel all over a parking lot somewhere in a state other than Maine.



Then I see fire trucks, pigmats, spill dams, police, DEP officials and a ticket that I could not fit in the glovebox being written out.



That keeps me from getting too creative... ... ...



Mike.

 

[HBarlow]

Sure looks that way.

 

[Bill Stockard]

I am going to do an auxilary tank set-up next year if all goes well.



I think that I will purchase a Northern Hydraulics kit or something of that nature no matter what I use for a tank.



I have horrible visions of a home made system overfilling the trucks tank and spewing 30 gallons of fuel all over a parking lot somewhere in a state other than Maine.



Then I see fire trucks, pigmats, spill dams, police, DEP officials and a ticket that I could not fit in the glovebox being written out.



That keeps me from getting too creative... ... ...



Mike.

Mike,



I had 45-gallon in bed auxiliary fuel tank on my previously owned Ford diesel, a first gen Dodge and two second gen Dodge diesels. The tank I used had a gauge and I used this switch to change tanks: Light Truck 6-Port Motor Driven Valve on Pollak

Not only did it switch the fuel inlet and return lines, it also switched the gauge sending units which allowed the gauge in the dash to measure the fuel level in each tank that I was drawing fuel from.



You should be able to get one through your parts system.



Bill

 

[mwilson]

Mike,



I had 45-gallon in bed auxiliary fuel tank on my previously owned Ford diesel, a first gen Dodge and two second gen Dodge diesels. The tank I used had a gauge and I used this switch to change tanks: Light Truck 6-Port Motor Driven Valve on Pollak

Not only did it switch the fuel inlet and return lines, it also switched the gauge sending units which allowed the gauge in the dash to measure the fuel level in each tank that I was drawing fuel from.



You should be able to get one through your parts system.



Bill

Excellent suggestion, I like that very much. Thank you.



Now that I study it a minute I realize that I tangled with one of these years ago.

IH Pick-ups and Travelall's had dual tanks as a rule. Used a cable control valve to change tanks, are you remembering this???

Pulled knob on dash to change tanks, twisted the knob to change the gauge.



After the cable controlled valve failed me a couple of times (nothing like sitting beside the road because you can't draw any gas out of the full tank) I purchased a valve similar to or the same as the one that you have suggested and wired the gauge and valve to a 6 post toggle switch.

Worked great and I don't recall having any trouble with it ever.



Hadn't thought about applying it to a diesel.



Mike.

 

[rscurtis]

I had one on my '74 pickup. It was an International supplied kit, and the saddle tank was made by Colorado Leisure Products IIRC. It didn't go very far on a 16 gallon tank at 7 MPG during the gas crises of that era.



When I put the 3-53 in it, I normally ran off the saddle tank, and when that ran low, I would use the factory tank with the return going to the saddle tank. Since the factory tank was so much smaller, I didn't have to worry about overflow, and the volume of the Gimmy fuel pump filled the tank quickly.

 

[HHhuntitall]

Borg Warner sells a 6 port unit, Made in USA. FSV2A, I get mine from Orielly's Auto. BWD FSV2A - Fuel Tank Selector Valve Kit | O'Reilly Auto Parts I like these, as the return line works with the draw tank, so you don't have to worry about overfilling the main tank if you run on the aux..... And they come with the switch, plug in, and instructions for installation... . and if, somehow, some red fuel SOMEHOW makes it into the aux tank, it won't contaminate the main fuel tank. Just sayin'.

 

[Gonzo 1066]

I have been very happy with my TransferFlow in bed 74 gallon tank. I have the Traxus transfer system and it works great. Simple and very effective.

 

[steved]

I am going to do an auxilary tank set-up next year if all goes well.



I think that I will purchase a Northern Hydraulics kit or something of that nature no matter what I use for a tank.



I have horrible visions of a home made system overfilling the trucks tank and spewing 30 gallons of fuel all over a parking lot somewhere in a state other than Maine.



Then I see fire trucks, pigmats, spill dams, police, DEP officials and a ticket that I could not fit in the glovebox being written out.



That keeps me from getting too creative... ... ...







Mike.

They only leak if you over pressure them... most often the fuel cap will leak before anything else... and that's pumping from one to the other, not gravity. I have done it twice (forgot the pump was on)... both times it was the cap.



I still hesitate to recommend the vent line... it did not work for me, and would cough fuel out the fill cap and would "vapor lock".



I've been running and auxiliary for the past 100k, would not have it any other way.

 

[Bill Stockard]

Excellent suggestion, I like that very much. Thank you.



Now that I study it a minute I realize that I tangled with one of these years ago.

IH Pick-ups and Travelall's had dual tanks as a rule. Used a cable control valve to change tanks, are you remembering this???

Pulled knob on dash to change tanks, twisted the knob to change the gauge.



After the cable controlled valve failed me a couple of times (nothing like sitting beside the road because you can't draw any gas out of the full tank) I purchased a valve similar to or the same as the one that you have suggested and wired the gauge and valve to a 6 post toggle switch.

Worked great and I don't recall having any trouble with it ever.



Hadn't thought about applying it to a diesel.



Mike.

Yep, I remember those cable operated transfer valves; however, I never was stranded on the road by one. I drove company vehicles, mostly Travelalls (we called them Farmall station wagons:-laf:-laf), a few 4x4 Scouts, and a few pickups. All were new. I drove them about 10K miles, sold them, and picked up another new one. We got to order what we wanted and I usually ordered everything one could get from the factory since they were the easiest ones to re-sell. Those were fun days... .



Bill

 

[Bill Stockard]

Borg Warner sells a 6 port unit, Made in USA. FSV2A, I get mine from Orielly's Auto. BWD FSV2A - Fuel Tank Selector Valve Kit | O'Reilly Auto Parts I like these, as the return line works with the draw tank, so you don't have to worry about overfilling the main tank if you run on the aux..... And they come with the switch, plug in, and instructions for installation... . and if, somehow, some red fuel SOMEHOW makes it into the aux tank, it won't contaminate the main fuel tank. Just sayin'.

Yep, that looks like the Pollack unit... Borg Warner and Pollack probably buy 'em from the same place.



Bill